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Jan 29, 2011

"Beyond Discouragement"

Day #29 - 'A Woman of Faith' DevotionalVerse: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1 NKJV

This is a good follow-up devotion to 'The Gift of Cheerfulness'(click to read if you haven't already)... as we make the choice to be cheerful in whatever circumstance may come our way. When that circumstance leads us to discouragement or disappointment, we still can remain joyful knowing that God is in control, and that He never gives us more than we can handle. (See photo above - 'I know God will not give me anything I can't handle... I just wish He didn't trust me so much.' ~Mother Teresa)

As an example to this, the day that I did this devotional, I was claiming that I was going to have a 'fabulous friday' and I was going to remain cheerful. We are going to choose joy. I told the children in my Preschool class right out. Well, we have had a lot of sickness and disease going through our centre... which is obviously an attack of the devil, as God has created us to be healthy and whole. Yet it is also a test of our faith as our church just finished two of the greatest conferences to start out our year. We are tested in things to grow our faith, and to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Anyway, we have been praying for healing and restoration in the centre staff, the children, and their families. Well this last week was supposed to be the END of the sickness plague, yet it was in full swing. We sent children home with fevers, diarrhea, vomitting, and more. We had children complaining of sore ears, heads, tummies, throats, and more. THIS HAS TO STOP, as it is bringing discouragement to the unbelievers in our 'family', and also is difficult for those believers. YET, we also need to remember to stand as 'gate-keepers' for our centre. As Christians we need to take a stand of courage, even when others around might not be standing tall. God gives us the courage we need to go through each and every circumstance that faces us every day. We should not fear man, nor should we fear the attacks of the devil, or the devil himself. We need to STRENGTHEN our FAITH and continue to have hopeful hearts knowing that GOD WILL BRING US THROUGH! So, FDN GOD WILL BRING US THROUGH, WE WILL HAVE THE VICTORY THROUGH HIM! In Jesus' Name! We are covered and cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and we will walk in complete health and wholeness! <3 (Think of these last few sentences when thinking of your own struggles and discouragements - The Lord will bring you through!)

Do not let discouragement or disappointment get the best of you. Do not allow yourself to even feel the slightest of frustration, as that in itself is not of God either. Eleanor Roosevelt once quoted, "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every great experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."